How Has the Big Grass Fire Affected Mule Deer and Elk?

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North Fork Campground. Photo courtesy Idaho Fish and Game

The Big Grass Fire started from a lightning strike on July 23, 2026 and burned 578,637 acres in Idaho and Oregon. The fire affected an enormous area, and recovery will take time and effort to restore valuable wildlife habitat. While these efforts are ongoing, hunters can explore alternative places to hunt deer and elk in the affected units. Remember to always be fire-wise when recreating on this drought-stricken landscape, be mindful of private lands when hunting these units, and remember to keep motorized travel on established roads.

Before heading out on your hunt, please check the status on current BLM closures in Southwest Idaho.

Mule Deer

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Hunting

Taurus Expands Raging Hunter Line with New 8-Inch 350 Legend Model

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Taurus, a leading manufacturer of reliable, high-quality firearms, is expanding its popular Raging Hunter revolver line with a new 8-inch barrel model chambered in 350 Legend.

The new 8-inch model joins the existing 10-inch and 14-inch 350 Legend Raging Hunter revolvers, giving hunters and shooters a shorter, handier option in the straight-wall cartridge. The six-shot revolver uses full moon clips for fast reloading and is available in two-tone or black finishes. The 8-inch Raging Hunter 350 Legend launches today.

Key features of the Raging Hunter 350 Legend include the following: Read more

Firearms

Spartan Precision Equipment Introduces the Pent System Kit

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Spartan Precision Equipment, a leader in lightweight, innovative shooting support systems, announces the Pent System Kit, a modular upgrade that adds a fifth leg to Spartan Quad Sticks, creating a self-supporting shooting platform that enhances stability, supports the rifle’s weight, and reduces shooter fatigue during extended periods in the field.

Designed for hunters who may need to remain in position while waiting for a clear, ethical shot, the Pent System converts Spartan Quad Sticks into a five-legged support system. The extra point of ground contact helps prevent the shooting sticks from tipping and allows the system to support the rifle’s weight, reducing the effort required to maintain a steady, ready-to-fire position. Read more

Firearms

 Website Helps with Learning How to Process Deer

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Correctly processing your deer assures that you and your family will have many enjoyable meals ahead. VTF&W Photo

Vermont is one of the most rural states in the country, and Vermonters have a proud heritage of living close to the land. Hunting is highly regulated and provides a way to connect with the land, connect with nature and connect with a healthy, sustainable food source that is rooted in Vermont.

Making the most of the meals provided by deer taken in hunting seasons starts with processing them quickly and correctly which is why the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department has three online videos demonstrating how to process deer. Finding the videos is easy on the Fish and Wildlife website. Click on “Hunt” and then White-tailed Deer, Tips and Techniques, and then Processing Your Deer. Read more

Hunting

Idaho’s Bear River Produces New Idaho Catch-and-Release State Record Brown Trout

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This summer’s hot streak of record fish continues to churn out some impressive catches. Congratulations to Benjamin Smith of Thatcher, Idaho, who made fishing history on Aug. 28 when he caught a new Idaho catch-and-release state record brown trout from the Bear River in Franklin County.

Smith’s catch barely beats the recent record set by Caroline Langdale by 0.5 inches, who caught a similarly huge brown trout on the South Fork Snake River only a few months prior in May 2026. The only thing more surprising than a brown trout over 30 inches is how quickly the previous record fell. Given how rare a fish of this class is for Idaho, most anglers should have expected the previous record to stand for quite a while. Read more

Fishing

SAF, Partners Challenge New Mexico’s Firearms Purchase Waiting Period

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The Second Amendment Foundation (SAF) and its partners have filed a new lawsuit in New Mexico challenging the state’s “cooling off” waiting period for firearms purchases.

In 2024, New Mexico enacted House Bill 129 which forces firearms purchasers to wait out a multi-day waiting period before taking possession of a firearm despite having already been approved through the state’s background check system. This new case follows the 2025 Ortega v. Grisham lawsuit where the Tenth Circuit held the law was unconstitutional and remanded to the district court, which subsequently issued a permanent injunction. Despite these rulings holding the law to violate the Second Amendment, New Mexico has maintained that it will continue to enforce it against everyone except the named individuals in Ortega. The suit filed today seeks to expand the coverage of the Ortega holding to include all SAF members.

“It’s incredibly concerning that state officials would flaunt a federal circuit decision and publicly boast of their intentions to continue to enforce an unconstitutional law,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. Read more

Gun Control

Infrared imagery guides targeted treatments as fire crews clean up

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Oct. 20, 2026
Contact: Beth Fults, 517-282-5985 or Keith Murphy, 906-250-1382

Embers may still smolder, but they can’t hide from infrared drone cameras

A map showing the infrared heat locations of the Rugged Terrain Complex fire.

Most crew activity across the three Rugged Terrain Complex fires in the Upper Peninsula is beginning to wind down, with firefighters focusing on finding residual fire activity and patrolling containment lines as fire behavior remains calm and steady.

The Rugged Terrain Complex is composed of the Ridge, Craig Lake and Black River fires.

“Because firefighters have done such a fantastic job with suppression efforts, we can reduce resources actively working these fires,” said Jennifer Hansen, deputy incident commander with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. “We are finding fewer hot spots, which allows us to move into more of a monitoring strategy. Staff continue to check and extinguish the hot spots they can safely reach.”

A continued threat to firefighter safety as well as containment efforts are the trees damaged in the fires, some of which have had their roots burned right out from under them. Those trees have been falling across containment lines, interrupting necessary access for firefighters to complete remaining suppression efforts.

Ongoing suppression work Read more

Wildlife

Angler assistance needed for Muskegon River whitefish study

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Oct. 20, 2026
Contact: Sandra Svoboda (TNC), 313-574-0645, Christina VanDoornik (LRBOI), 231-398-2197, and Scott Heintzelman (DNR), 231-433-9782

Acoustic telemetry tags are attached to fish near their dorsal fins. Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy in Michigan.Do you fish the Muskegon River between Croton Dam and the river mouth at Lake Michigan? This fall you might see in the channel lake whitefish carrying acoustic telemetry tags and acoustic receivers for tracking the fish.

The devices are part of work the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and partner organizations will be conducting to determine whether rivers like the Muskegon could serve as alternative spawning areas for lake whitefish, a species facing steep population declines in lakes Michigan and Huron.

Acoustic telemetry receiver stations will be located along the Muskegon River. Image courtesy of The Nature Conservancy in MichiganAnglers in the Muskegon River area are asked to release any tagged whitefish they catch and report any they harvest to assist with this effort. Read more
Fishing
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WOOX, manufacturers of Italian-American made gunstocks, axes and knives, crafted with the finest materials and the latest technology, is proud to announce the introduction of their 1911 Grips, handcrafted in Italy.

“The 1911 is an enduring expression of American craftsmanship, and its grips should complement that legacy,” said Ben Fleming, CEO of WOOX USA. “Available in Micarta and high-grade American Walnut, the new WOOX 1911 grips combine lasting durability with a secure, confident feel. Each material offers a distinct character, from the understated texture of Micarta to the natural richness of walnut, allowing owners to refine both the handling and appearance of their pistol.” Read more

Firearms
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